This is a sponsored post in partnership with Basic Invite. All opinions are the author’s own.
It’s 2020, meaning the wedding season has no beginning and no end, people are getting married on stoops, and the size of your guest list is determined by your state’s governor. The mention of “eloping” is no longer received with a side-eye by Aunt Ruth, and we now have a synonym for micro wedding: the “minimony.”
Everything’s fine.
As weddings continue to evolve in order to meet whatever the pandemic tosses their way, you can balance all the stress and uncertainty with a dose of reassurance and comfort, and that is by including traditions. Forced to elope? You can still have (and should) do a first look. Do a first dance, even if it means waltzing on a restaurant patio in front of strangers (guarantee they’ll love it). And definitely include something borrowed or something blue, something old or something new—this is perhaps the most sentimental of wedding traditions, and trust me, you’ll cherish the closeup shots of your grandmother’s pearls for years to come.
Another sentimental tradition to keep? The guest book. Modeled after the Quaker tradition of having guests sign as witnesses to a wedding, a guest book might not typically be associated with smaller affairs, but should definitely be included as a sweet and simple way to document your day, whether your guest list is 50 or five. Here’s why.
It Allows You to Identify Wedding Crashers
We see you, “Shamus.”
But seriously, at the most basic level, the purpose of a wedding guest book is simply to track those who attended your wedding, and also gather their addresses, which makes sending thank-you cards a bit breezier.
Get Free Advice
Not just a place to record names, a guest book also offers a way for your guests to share something meaningful in writing. This guest book for weddings (below) from the connoisseurs over at Basic Invite—who have perfected the art of online wedding invitations—is the perfect blank canvas for doing so. Get creative with it—ask your guests to share their favorite memory of the two of you, or offer their best marriage advice.
To Have and to Hold
A guest book is one of the only physical mementos you can take from your wedding day. And much like a photo album, it’s something you can place on your shelf and return to again and again. You know, when you’re in need of said wedding advice.
It’s Very Affordable
When compared to other aspects of your budget, the cost of a guest book barely makes a dent; the slew of customizable offerings from Basic Invite start at $39.95. Which is basically the cost of brunch.
Let’s Jazz up that Mask Table
You know, since mask tables are now a thing and all. But in all seriousness, by placing your guest book in an area already guaranteed to be hit up by your guests when they arrive, you won’t miss any names, as can often happen when it’s not brought out until the reception.
About Basic Invite
As mentioned previously, the peeps at Basic Invite are pros at the online wedding invitations game. They’re also one of the few websites that allows you nearly unlimited color options (as in, 180) with instant previews online. You can change the color of each element on a card to make it exactly how you want it, down to the littlest detail, which is what really sets Basic Invite apart from any other online stationary company.
On top of myriad color options (how great is that ombré?), Basic Invite also offers a free address collection service that allows you to request addresses by sharing a link via social media or email, collecting addresses, and receiving free envelope printing.
And, Basic Invite’s newest collection, Seal & Send, even allows for your guests’ addresses to be printed on the front of each invitation, meaning no envelope is necessary. Just share a link, collect your guests’ addresses, and upload them onto your design. Once you receive your order, all you have to do is add postage, fold your invites, and secure them with a sticker. We think this pairs nicely with collecting addresses via a guest book.
What traditions are you keeping for your elopement or micro wedding? We want to know! Email kim@artofeloping.com to share.
